The Old Folks Home

[bruceha2000]

DH estimates that an 8X3 length of hickory weighs approximately 3200 pounds.

Makes you appreciate what the settlers did by hand and with a team of horses when they moved west and started clearing timber for homes and farms.

8x3?? Eight 3' lengths? No way that weighs 3200 pounds, a full cord of dry maple weighs a ton. Maybe 320 pounds? That seems more reasonable both for the wood and the lifting capacity of the tractor.

And yes I marvel at what people did before machinery. Our house is 2 buildings built before the US Civil war. 36' long hand hewn 5 sided ridge poles. 36' long 8'x10' top plates and 10'x12' sills, hand hewn. I can't even imagine how much work it was to hand saw or chop down the trees, pull them out of the woods and hew them. Then LIFT them!!! Must have taken 20 people to raise post and beam buildings frame by frame.

 

[microchick]

We've had that happen. Widow makers for sure. We use heavy chains and a tow strap. Chain the base of the tree that is cut and hung up, run chain to pull hook on the back of the tractor and chugga chugga from a safe distance. If we are lucky the tree will pull free and be on the ground. Using a come along might do the trick. The challenge will be the diameter of the tree and the amount of downward force on the trunk.

 

[bruceha2000]

This one is only about 7". I was able to lever the base around, and back toward the trunk but not enough to get the top to fall. So I would GUESS I could get some decent pull with the come-along and some chain. I'll find out tomorrow. I thought it was going to rain but turns out that shouldn't start until very early Monday morning.

Who woulda thunk that a bunch of VERY dead branches no more than 2" in diameter would hold the tree up instead of breaking when the tree fell on them. No bark, no needles, nothing alive on that tree until probably 50'-60' up.

 

[Alaskan]

So you are saying your sons aren't heavy on the facial hair? There was a boy in DW's class that had a full beard at 14. Drinking age was 18 and a local store gave kids a free beer in their 18th B-day. Apparently he didn't feel right collecting his since he'd been buying beer for years.

nope.. not heavy on the facial hair. my poor almost 20 year old so very much wants a full beard and mustache. . still looks pretty moth eaten.

 

[microchick]

DH said the article he used said hickory weighed 58 pounds per cubic foot.

 

[chrisb01]

You handsome devil thank you for your services and sacrifices

Thank you, and of course you're very welcome..

 

[chrisb01]

ack! That much five o'clock shadow and mustache at NINETEEN? (not my genes I tell ya)

And 'hot' blooded latin.., thank you @Alaskan No hair now and the beard is very grey.. This is me with and without the beard (thinking of shaving, what do u think?)..

 

[Alaskan]

And 'hot' blooded latin.., thank you @Alaskan No hair now and the beard is very grey.. This is me with and without the beard (thinking of shaving, what do u think?)..View attachment 1433458View attachment 1433460

beards are great!

 

[chrisb01]

beards are great!

I think it makes me look old, but the old ladies at my local pub like it..

 

[1muttsfan]

Hung up trees are nothing to fool with. I've had 2 good friends, both of them loggers for years, almost killed by deadfalls. Be very carefull, friends. They were both struck down by trees they never saw.